Psychological, peer, and family influences on smoking among an adolescent psychiatric sample

While much is known about adolescent cigarette use and initiation in community samples, less is known about these factors among adolescents in clinic-referred populations or those with severe psychopathology. Data were collected from 106 adolescents aged 12 to 15 years (M = 13.6; SD = .74) recruited from a psychiatric inpatient facility. Hierarchical logistic regressions assessed the relationship between psychological, peer, and family environment factors and smoking at baseline and 18 months post-hospitalization. Conduct problem symptoms, friends’ cigarette use, and friends’ marijuana use were associated with greater odds of lifetime and current smoking at baseline, but not at follow-up. After accounting for the significant effect of baseline use, greater family conflict predicted decreased odds of having initiated smoking at the 18 month follow-up. The period following inpatient psychiatric hospitalization may represent an important window for smoking cessation and prevention efforts targeting peer and family factors, especially for youth with externalizing problems

Temporal relationship between substance use and delinquent behavior among young psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents

There is considerable evidence linking substance use and delinquent behavior among adolescents. However, the nature and temporal ordering of this relationship remains uncertain, particularly among early adolescents and those with significant psychopathology. This study examined the temporal ordering of substance use and delinquent behavior in a sample of psychiatrically hospitalized early adolescents. Youth (n = 108) between the ages of 12 and 15 years completed three assessments over 18 months following hospitalization. Separate cross-lagged panel models examined the reciprocal relationship between delinquent behavior and two types of substance use (e.g., alcohol and marijuana). Results provided evidence of cross-lagged effects for marijuana: delinquent behavior at 9 months predicted marijuana use at 18 months. No predictive effects were found between alcohol use and delinquent behavior over time. Findings demonstrate the stability of delinquent behavior and substance use among young adolescents with psychiatric concerns. Furthermore, results highlight the value of examining alcohol and marijuana use outcomes separately in order to better understand the complex pathways between substance use and delinquent behavior among early adolescents

Temporal relationship between substance use and delinquent behavior among young psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents

There is considerable evidence linking substance use and delinquent behavior among adolescents. However, the nature and temporal ordering of this relationship remains uncertain, particularly among early adolescents and those with significant psychopathology. This study examined the temporal ordering of substance use and delinquent behavior in a sample of psychiatrically hospitalized early adolescents. Youth (n = 108) between the ages of 12 and 15 years completed three assessments over 18 months following hospitalization. Separate cross-lagged panel models examined the reciprocal relationship between delinquent behavior and two types of substance use (e.g., alcohol and marijuana). Results provided evidence of cross-lagged effects for marijuana: delinquent behavior at 9 months predicted marijuana use at 18 months. No predictive effects were found between alcohol use and delinquent behavior over time. Findings demonstrate the stability of delinquent behavior and substance use among young adolescents with psychiatric concerns. Furthermore, results highlight the value of examining alcohol and marijuana use outcomes separately in order to better understand the complex pathways between substance use and delinquent behavior among early adolescents